Analysis of “You may turn over and begin” by Simon Armitage

You may overturn over and begin is an inside monologue of a person who is sitting an testing, ostensibly on the vanquish of General Studies. The title itself lends itself well to this theme as you may turn over and begin are the words an exam invigilator says as an exam begins. The poesy follows the conceits of the speaker who may or may not be Armitage himself as he sits the exam whilst musing over exam questions and opposite things that enter the speakers vox populis when he has finished the paper.The primary line of the poetry could be said to be the title itself as it directly links to the for the first time line of the main body of the rime. While the title is said by nearlyone else the remainder of the poem is the thoughts of the speaker, the fact that it is someones thoughts is reinforced by the seemingly ergodic train of thought and the subjects themselves which are individualized in nature- i.e. the speakers thoughts on milk white breasts and virginity in line s 12 and 13. The questions themselves are not representative of a general studies exam and are seemingly random, very much give care thought processes often are, though reference to the decameron could be linked to the boyish and hormonal thoughts of lines 12 and 13. Armitages reputation for representing and under brooking youth culture is highlighted by his reference to the general studies exam as ..a doddle, a cinch for anyone with an troy ounce of common sense in lines 6 and 7. This concept of general studies rest line up today bit the speakers insight on the determination of a calculator with a memory feature to cheat shows the writers comprehension of such things.Lines 10 and 11 reinforce the idea of general studies beingness an vapid exam as the speaker neglects to check the work, instead choosing to let the melodic theme wander. The next few couplets reflect on the injustice of male person/ womanish relations at that age whereby the boys are in a delirious hormo nal state bit the girls remain untouchable long and nervelessout of reach. Use of imagery is evident as identify of the the heat in line 14 points to enforced sexual repression on the part of men that age, while long and cool like cocktails indicates the heightened adulthood of women (though referred to as girls by the speaker) at that age. There is further imagery shown by the lines describing their buns and pigtails only let out for previous(a) guys which makes the link in the midst of the exertion of control evident in those hairstyles, which in turn is relaxed for older men. This is a metaphorical representation of sexual control.As is common with thought patterns the subject suddenly changes in line 20 where the speaker reminisces on an occasion when the cold control of young girls is lost as a jot of consolation. The following couplets detail a comical bunk which dispels some of the faade the speaker has built up about teenage girls. Lines 24-27 detail the girl primpin g herself but 28 and 29 describe of the motorbike pulling away, it is a typical of a story which would shell out around a college and the speaker reinforces this in line 30, referring to it as a rumour. The final line answers the first question posed by the exam paper and once again follows the theme of random thoughts as the answer just pops up, much as it would into ones mind. It may also be noted of this poem that, due to strong allusions to the fact, that it is Armitage or at least(prenominal) a male who is writing this, though in that respect are no specific mentions of the speakers sexuality, merely referring to his/herself in the first person I.The grammatical construction of the poem is both random and yet structured. The lines are set out in 16 couplets (possibly a connection to the age of the speaker at time). enjambement is evident in how the lines straddle separate couplets which connotes the theme of random thoughts without structure or regulated progress. The qua ntity itself also reflects this with a seemingly random variance in syllables which reflects the fairly random process of thought. While the volume of the lines within a couplet hold a similar metre (lines 1-2 with a 8 and 9 syllables respectively etc) one couplet that does stand out as breaking that mould that of lines 12 and 13. Line 12 has 14 syllables while 13 has 4 with virginity. The separation of the word from the others and position it on its own both represents the importance of the subject to adolescent males while also possibly representing the speakers embarrassment about the subject.The use of couplets serves to create a slow methodical rhythm in the poem. Coupled with this, examples of un disquieted and stressed syllables within the couplet rhyme create a sense of the six-fold choice nature of the paper the speaker is sitting. This is particularly evident in the first and second couplet. The rhythm is fairly structured when read aloud, this is deepen by use of stro ng para-rhyme- e.g. ..specifically/virginity, Honda/amber. The absence of a exact rhyme scheme or metre is in keeping with the disorganized nature of the thoughts of a person, though it must be noted that there is some structure to the poem as there is in some sections of the monologue of the speaker. An example of this is line 20 One jot of consolation which seems an unlikely sentence to actually think, though it does serve to create a division in the speakers thoughts on lusting after girls from the story about the lank girl riding pillion.Armitage is very much perceived as being of the poetry is the new rock and roll era so it is not affect that much of the vernacular and thoughts are akin to that which people of the college age. As is true of many contemporary poets the use of brands is evident her mans new Honda while much of the lexis, as previously mentioned, is colloquial, I.e. a doddle, a cinch. Particular tutelage is made to the appearance of the girl in lines 24 to 2 7 with pre accommodation evident, her tight jeans which continues the theme of a hormonal teenager lusting after girls.The poem itself is a mixture of teen angst and funniness. We can assume that Armitage writes this poem from personal experience as most men can identify with the thoughts of the speaker, while everyone who has taken the general studies exams will identify with the speakers opinion on it as a bit of a waste of time. As a male I can sympathise with the speaker while a pistillate reading this would be, in my opinion, more likely to focus on the comedy aspect of the poem rather than the hormonal maelstrom that is shown in the first half of the poem. While the structure, rhythm and lexis all support the context of the poem it may be said that while the theme of random thought is well presented there are sections which detract from the success of the attempt to procure this theme. This mainly manifests itself in the ordered nature of some of the narration and use of s imile (long and cool like cocktails) which is not a pragmatic thought. Despite this the devices used combine to good effect in this comprehension which is very easy to identify with.